Office of the Historian

444. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, May 14, 1962, 2:30 p.m.

Present were: Secretaries Rusk and McNamara, Assistant Secretary Harriman, Director McCone, General Taylor, Mr. Bundy and Mr. Forrestal.

Director McCone summarized the latest SNIE on the situation in Laos (SNIE 58–4-62, 14 May 1962).1

The Secretary of Defense recommended the following military movements:

  • (1) An Air Force squadron to deploy to Takli;
  • (2) Marine air support and Marine battalion to deploy to Udorn;
  • (3) The Army battle group to be deployed to an area 40 miles west of Korat and to be joined later by additional men and heavy equipment.

The President assented to the above deployments and suggested that a communiqué be drafted for release the following day after a morning meeting with the Congressional leadership.2 The President agreed with Secretary of State that SEATO capitals should be informed. The purpose of our putting forces into Thailand is to be prepared to take whatever action may be necessary under the Manila Pact. No formal SEATO action, however, is yet contemplated. The President asked that the State Department carefully consider the SEATO problem.

[Page 937]

The President asked Secretary McNamara whether the actual orders to the military should not be held up in order to avoid leaks. Secretary McNamara replied that he believed that orders could go out immediately without being leaked to the press.

  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos, General, 5/17/62–5/25/62. Top Secret Drafted by Forrestal on May 23.↩
  2. See vol. XXIV, p. 769.↩
  3. See Document 446.↩